Report: Apple Increases Q1 2011 iPhone Shipments To 21 Million
Today, DigiTimes is reporting that Apple has increased their Q1 2011 iPhone shipment target from 19 million units to 20 – 21 million units. The rumor mill indicates that at least 25% of these shipments are CDMA iPhones.
A CDMA iPhone would likely be headed to carriers such as Verizon in the USA and even SaskTel, MTS, and Public Mobile in Canada. While Bell and Telus also continue to operate a CDMA network in Canada, their iPhone units have been moved to their new HSPA network.
The first-quarter shipment goal for WCDMA iPhones has been adjusted from 13 million units to 14-15 million units, the sources said. The shipment goal for CDMA iPhones, which will be launched in North America and Asia Pacific in the first quarter, is set at 5-6 million units, the sources added.
Many Canadian carriers have been expanding their wireless networks to adopt 3G/HSPA technology in order to expand their device selection. The most notable is the collaboration between Bell and Telus to create a HSPA network overlay on their existing CDMA network to support the iPhone. SaskTel has also recently been upgrading its network with 3G coverage to support newer and additional devices.
If a CDMA iPhone becomes available, a lot of Canadians who are not in a HSPA/3G coverage zone with Telus, Bell, or SaskTel for example will finally be able to use an iPhone!